Sea Eagles and the law
In common with all other birds of prey in Britain, sea Eagles are fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is illegal to shoot, poison or otherwise kill sea eagles, to disturb them at the nest or to take eggs or young. Under the new Nature Conservation Act it is now illegal to disturb their nests and heavy fines, or even imprisonment, may be imposed for harming eagles or their eggs. .
SNH and RSPB staff are constantly watchful for any possible persecution
of sea eagles. Sea eagle nest sites are kept under close surveillance by
RSPB staff to ensure that the birds can breed without disturbance. However,
as sea eagles readily scavenge on carrion, they are vulnerable to illegally
laid poison baits. Several sea eagles, including at least two breeding adults,
are known to have died from eating such baits and efforts continue to be
made to reduce the risk of future casualties. (See the SNH booklet ‘Scotland’s
Wildlife: the Law and You’.